________________
orator and had a magic spell in the presentation of truth which attracted the people towards pure form of religion and pure code of conduct. With a view to totally and permanently eradicate any type of violence in any form caused either by Jain congregation, by the rituals and activities, or by the austerities, Lok ha in his sermons, cited examples from cr mga and explained their meaning to the people in simple language. Thus he made it very clear that Jain religion never allows nor gives scope for any type of harm to any being out of adj va Nik ya. The doctrine gave topmost priority to protection of life, non-violence and compassion. Omniscient and omnipercipient Lord Mah v ra during the time of inception of Holy Path preached the same - "One should not inflict pain to any adj va Nik ya beings even for protecting his own life, or for attaining liberation, or for liberation from transmigration, oldness or diseases. The person who does such an inflicting act would undergo the cycle of transmigration for infinite times with inexplicable pain and agony". The truth and the sermons enunciated by Lord Mah v ra to the people while establishing the four-fold order do not require any testimony. The Temple dwellers following the lines like 'Vedik Hims Hims Na Bhavati' (violence or the use of force to uphold the righteousness cannot be considered as violence.) expressed that 'Dh rmika Hims, Hims Na Bhavati' [(hims in miniature like violence against subtle beings by using conscious water, flowers etc during worship etc); spiritual violence cannot be termed as violence]. Lok protested and fought against such non-scriptural debase rites throughout his life and endeavoured to make the people understand the eternal truth through examples, narrations and evidences.
ha
Giving away all their wealth and possessions, three c ryas nanda Vimala S ri etc. embarked on a counter campaign against Lok ha. They adopted 4 types of policies - S ma-D ma-Bheda and Da da to put an end to Lok ha's movement. Treacherously the enemies of Lok ha took initiation into Lok gaccha, so as to make it hollow from within, by creating internal strife. Claiming themselves as the followers of Lok ha they started performing activities like idol worship etc., exactly opposite to the doctrine of Lok gaccha and started proving that Lok gaccha was in favour of idol worship.
This was the greatest victory of the opponents of Lok ha They heaved a sigh of relief patting their own backs in praise as ‘at last'. But in spite
220
